The said party was three streets away. The street where the party would be held is called Greshan Locks. The venue was a beautifully furnished bungalow with lots of space around it. The owners purposely left their main gate open for the ceremony.
Aarti's grandma was in front of her and greeted the others already waiting on seats at the venue under a canopy. Aarti looked uncomfortable but still managed to smile at each person that her grandma introduced her to.
"Grandma Binita, nice to see you." one of the guests, a red-haired middle-aged woman in pink Saree greeted. She was just arriving at the venue too with her husband who donned a black and white suit combination.
"Oh Aanya, long time no see. How are you? And Reyansh, I can see you're taking good care of my girl." Grandma said happily, her eyes forming two half moons.
"Thank you for the praise. But I think it's Aanya who's taking care of me. That's why I still look 40 instead of 50." said the husband and they all laughed.
"Oh right, Cynthia, come and say hello to Grandma." Aanya turned to beckon a pretty young girl who's barely 15 to come over.
The girl came and greeted Grandma.
"Oh my, is this..." Grandma gasped in shock. The young one looked like Aanya!
"Yeah! Heavens blessed our union finally. We have a big, sweet daughter now." Reyansh said and placed his hands on the girl's shoulder.
"This is good. This is good! Come, let me take a look at you." Grandma was very excited.
The girl obeyed and touched Grandma's feet. Grandma raised her up and caressed her hair gently.
"Bless you, child. You are going to be campus queen soon. Hehe. Aanya, please don't forget to invite me when she's ready to err... You know..." Grandma giggled with the couple.
Aarti who stood behind was going through some vital stuff on her phone.
"Oh, lest I forget, this is Aarti, my granddaughter." Aarti immediately flashed a fake smile.
"Hi, Auntie, Uncle. I'm happy to meet you guys." she said.
"This is Aarti? Look at her. Very beautiful!" Aanya praised. She walked towards Aarti and shook hands with her. While smiling, she exerted force, wanting to squeeze Aarti's hand but unfortunately, she found that the situation
was different from her imagination. Aarti nearly broke Aanya's hand and still smiled brightly.
"Ma'am, your hand is so soft. What's your secret?" Aarti asked, seeming envious.
"There's none. But I can help look for creams that can make yours as soft as a baby's." Aanya smiled despite being on the verge of tears.
"Oh, thanks in advance, ma'am for your kindness." Aarti then hugged the terrified lady and whispered in her ears: "Ma'am, know your damn place. I won't be so merciful next time. Hypocrite!"
Both parted with smiles and stared at their family.
"This is my child, Cynthia." Aanya introduced.
"Haha, she's so cute. You'll make stars fall just to gaze at your beauty when you grow up." Aarti laughed and touched the little one's cheek.
"Oh, the party is about to start. Let's find seats!" Reyansh said.
"Alright!" Grandma waved them. And the trio left.
"Aarti, sit down and put away your phone for once."
Aarti frowned but obeyed. The party soon started.
It was two couples celebrating 25 years of happy marriage.
The two came out on the host's request clad in stunning magenta traditional clothing. The woman was in Saree while the man had a turban, brocade and trousers.
They looked like a match made in heaven- beautiful lady and handsome, gentle husband.
Aarti scoffed when she saw them.
"Hypocrite!" she muttered in disapproval.
Grandma turned her head to look at her granddaughter.
"Dear, did you say something?" she asked.
"Well, I did. They look good together." Aarti replied with a fake smile.
"Baby girl, you should indeed smile more like this. Then gentlemen can approach you. Who knows, maybe your right man is here?"
"I've heard you, Grandma. But my patience is thinning. This party had better been over before 6pm. I have important stuff to do for my boss." Aarti complained and stared away at the others.
Grandma Binita sighed and shook her head. When will her granddaughter learn?
**********
2 hours later, Aarti excused herself to the bathroom and finally sighed in relief.
"I can't stand this party of hypocrites. Tsk, tsk tsk! It must be so hard for them to smile all day. My jaws are aching." she murmured.
One of the restroom doors opened and surprisingly, it was Aanya.
She was complaining about Aarti's strength.
"That little bitch! I'll make her pay!" she swore as she closed the door. When she turned around, she saw Aarti staring at her with folded arms.
She sighed and yawned
"This party is already boring. I can't believe that someone would actually make me want to go home so fast and hug my teddy bear tightly." Aarti said.
"You... What are you doing here?" Aanya asked.
"Oh wow! So, you mean I should have gone to the men's restroom instead. You have opened my eyes, ma'am." Aarti looked amused in contrast to the scared Aanya who clutched her Safari tight.
"Ma'am, no need to be scared. I hold no grudge against you. Relax and go see your family. They must be very worried." Aarti said and entered
one of the restroom and closed the door.
Aanya gritted her teeth and clneched her fists. Why was it that that bitch is so strong? What is her
The last time she saw her, was five years ago while on a business trip. Aarti bumped into her and apologized but Aanya slapped her. Then they met at a party again 5 months later and she pressed Aarti's hand hard when they exchanged pleasantries.
Now, it seems Aarti was holding back at those times. That damn wrench who looks exactly like her late bitch of a mom. A restroom door opened and Aarti came out. Aanya was so shocked that she fell to the floor on her butt.
"You..." Aanya couldn't find the words to say at this moment.
"Seeing you again, this demon who caused my dear mom to die along with my beloved dad because of your scheme. You know, when I see your daughter, I feel like choking her to death. But on second thought, she is innocent. So is your husband. I won't harm your family. But I will love to hurt you. This way I can say I truly that I enjoyed this damn party." Aarti walked to Aanya who kept shifting until her back touched the wall.
"What are you going to do? You... Stay away from me!"
"Don't be afraid. I won't kill you. I just want you to taste your own medicine. I promise, it's gonna be very sweet and memorable." Aarti squatted and petted Aanya's head.
It seemed light but in effect, Aanya felt like something hit her head. What kind of strength does this Aarti have?
Aarti held the scared lady's chin and rubbed her face.
"So smooth!"
She then slapped Aanya's right cheek hard. Five palm prints appeared on her cheek. Aanya wanted to cry.
The pain from the slap made her dizzy.
"Ma'am, don't fall asleep yet. You must complete your dose."
"Please, let me go," Aanya cried.
That one slap really hurt, you know! Someone should hurry and come save her.
"I can't let you go till you take your medicine. Take this." Aarti slapped Aanya's left cheek hard and continued repeating her actions; slapping both cheeks like her life depended on it.
Aanya wanted to die. The pain and humiliation was too much.
Aarti took out scissors and began to cut Aanya's hair till it was barely neck-length.
She cut off her pearl necklace and removed her fake eyelashes.
She then held her by the throat.
"Aanya, I want to kill you so bad. But I won't. I'll let you off easy this time. But if you dare do anything stupid and I get wind of it, just kiss your 'perfect' family goodbye." Aarti finally warned and kicked Aanya's stomach hard causing her to cry out in pain. Blood flowed out from between her legs.
"Oh my! I didn't know you were with child. I'm so sorry. But that way we should be even. You know my mom was 5 months pregnant when she died. Consider it your karma, bitch." Aarti spat on Aanya and left the bathroom. Earlier she had ruined all security cameras and audio recorders. Plus, she had rendered Aanya unable to speak. Attempt to treat it will cause memory loss! A life worse than death was what she deserved. She should have expected this to happen someday.
Aarti returned to the party, all-smiles!
"Child, what took you so long?" Grandma Binita asked.
"I met an acquaintance and received a call from my boss. I have to leave early. See you later, grandma. Love you!" she blew her a kiss and left.
Grandma sighed and shook her head.
10 minutes later, a scream came from the bathroom. Many rushed there and saw an unrecognizable Aanya, bleeding from in between her legs. She had even fainted
"Aanya, my wife! Who did this? Who did this to her? Aanya!" her husband rushed in and placed her head on his laps.
"Someone call the ambulance!" Cynthia, the daughter cried. "Mom, wake up!"
And so, a happy ceremony ended in pandemonium. A bad thing has occured right under their noses. The ambulance soon came to take Aanya away.
But who was the culprit?
The police also arrived and sealed the public bathroom to do investigation. They asked all guests to remain.
Grandma Binita called Aarti who immediately picked up.
"Aarti, Aanya was nearly murdered. Her unborn child is dead.
"What? Mrs. Aanya? How... How could that happen? Is she alright?" Aarti asked from the other end in 'distress'.
"She's being taken to the hospital." Grandma replied.
"Oh my gosh! I'm coming over right now. Thankfully, I have gone too far. Are you still at the venue?"
"Yeah. Hurry and come quick!"
3 minutes later, Aarti rushed into the bungalow looking worried.
She saw a sad grandma.
"Aarti, let's go to the hospital." she said softly and took her granddaughter's hand.
Both of them had been searched before they could leave and head for the hospital.
"My only regret is that I made grandma worried and sad for that bitch." Aarti thought.
Caramel health Clinic, M city.
Aanya was placed in the private recovery ward after the baby was successfully removed. Her husband and daughter, Cynthia, cried bitterly.
"Who could be so cruel to do this? What has my wife done to deserve this? She has no enemy! Why, why me?" her husband, Reyansh wailed.
"Pull yourself together and be strong. Aanya will be fine. Cynthia, come let me hug you, my dear." Grandma Binita offered.
Cynthia came over to grandma and sat beside her. Grandma then pulled her into a hug.
"Your mum will be fine, okay?" she consoled with soft voice.
Aarti who stood not far from them was getting bored to death. She made an excuse of going to the bathroom and left to the ladies restroom.
She took a phone call there. It was her boss!
"Hello, boss Nelson!" she said in a humble tone. Yeah, I hear you clearly sir. I'm in the hospital with my grandma. It's her friend who was almost murdered. I'll be coming over now, sir!" she said and the call ended.
Aarti sighed and shook her head.
She then called her grandma.
"Ma, I won't be returning early. My boss asked for me. Return home early and recall to take milk and your medicine, alright?" she said and ended the call.
She put the phone in her purse and left the bathroom.
******
10 minutes later, Aarti comes out of a shop wearing a black tight suit with silver waist chains that further accentuated her shape and long legs. She wore a black veil that covered one part of her face and 8-inch high heels.
She took a taxi and left for her destination.
Some hours later, she arrived at a place in a village with a sign 'Don't trespass. Danger ahead!'.
She scoffed and entered the place which was a cave, holding a big torchlight. She switched it on to see the environ in the cave and finally found a trap door. She then opened it and jumped down.
She landed in an underground basement filled with men and women who wore tight suits like her.
Aarti took off her veil and bowed to the others.
"Comrades, pardon my lateness. I'll punish myself with a glass of wine." she said and took a glass from the table close to her and poured wine in it
She raised it up to show them before drinking it.
This wine was very bitter, man!
She then took her spot amongst the standing fellows.
Soon, a figure came through another door wearing a green t-shirt, white trousers and white converse.
It was Nelson Woodley.
Alright, the mystery about our Aarti is solved. She is one of his elite bodyguards whom he personally trained. She first made an appearance in his office, helping to humiliate and cast out gold-digger Sonia.
What are they all gathered here for? Training of course! He trains them every 3 months.
He handed them papers for their training which starts immediately. He'd evaluate them in two days and kick out the one slacking. Everyone felt intense pressure and swore not to slack off.
Satisfied, he asked them to leave but asked Aarti to remain.
The others left the basement using different trap doors leaving only Aarti and Nelson.
"Boss, what mission do you have for me?" she asked humbly.
"Stay with me in my other form." he said.
"Sir, forgive me on being ignorant. What other form, sir?" she asked in puzzlement.
"You have seen me spit out blood many times and bend over in pain. I ask you to leave each time that it's an old illness. Actually this illness or rather this curse is something I never wished for but it simply can't be revealed to others."
He looked at the half moon outside and smiled bitterly.
"It's time!" he said with a sigh and left with super speed then returned in less than a minute now in a white bathrobe.
Aarti was confused and shocked. What did her boss mean by this? Why the bathrobe? Plus was he even human with that speed?
"Well, it's easier to shift if I wear a bathrobe. I can just take it off if I feel that he's ready to come out." Nelson said and went into a crawling position on the floor.
While Aarti was still trying to process his actions, she heard the cracking of bones.
She looked at her boss and saw his back was in a strange shape. The spinal cord was cracking. Nelson did not scream at all. Instead, he stared at her with red and blue eyes.
She was shocked but didn't move away. She watched him grit his teeth as his bones cracked. He suddenly brought his hands to his crotch. He couldn't bear it anymore and screamed. His hands and legs cracked and elongated.
"Sir..." Aarti covered her mouth.
So her boss wasn't really human? That explains his inhuman speed then. What was he turning into? A monster? Would he eat her up after he finished transforming? With these thoughts in mind, she wanted to leave.
"Don't leave, Aarti if you want to survive." Nelson managed to say before all his teeth fell out.
He quickly took off his bathrobe and she looked away.
In 20 minutes, his transformation was complete and a howl made her turn her head.
She saw a pink huge wolf. It looked very cute and harmless. It crouched down and whimpered. It looked like it wanted to be comforted.
Aarti carefully approached it and sat beside Nelson.
Then she touched his head.
"Sorry!" she said softly.
He had just gone through a very painful transformation after all.
Nelson rested his head on her laps to sleep.
Aarti sighed.
She secretly liked her boss for sometime now. Now she discovered he was a shape shifter, what should she do now? She decided to rest her back on the wall and sleep since he didn't permit her to leave yet. Somehow, she trusted that her boss in wolf form won't hurt her.
**********
An hour later, Aarti opened her eyes and saw that the wolf was gone. She got up and looked around.
Where was her boss? Where did he go? Oh right, he should be in wolf form now.
"Aarti!" she heard a hoarse voice call her and turned to face a very thick pillar in the basement, enough to hide a person.
"Boss, if that you?" she asked suspiciously while walking towards the pillar.
"Yeah!" Nelson revealed his head.
"Please don't come any closer..." he managed to say.
"Sir, are you injured?" she asked in distress.
"No, I'm having a wardrobe challenge here." he said.
"Eh? You're naked?" she asked loudly.
"You... do you have to be so straight forward? Forget it, just get me my bathrobe over there." he pointed at the extreme of the basement.
"I'm sorry for angering you, sir." she apologized and took out her phone.
"Hey! What are you trying to do?" he asked in alarm. Even though only his head was shown, he was in a vulnerable state here and couldn't use his super speed at the moment.
"I was texting my grandma goodnight. Sorry, sir!" she gave a lame excuse.
"Aarti, you are toast once I've recovered." he muttered.
She soon came with his bathrobe and threw it at him.
"Thanks!" he said unhappily.
******
5 minutes later, he had just finished eating some straw berries stored in the basement.
They both sat opposite each other on the floor.
Nelson looked at her like she was a lab rat, causing her to feel uncomfortable. Recalling that he wasn't human made her think that he wanted to eat her up.
"Tell me the truth, are you scared of me?" he asked.
"Boss, I... It's my first time seeing something like this. I'm a little scared but not much now. Were you born with this curse, sir?" she asked.
"Well, I can't talk about it. It's a secret. But do you know why I let you witness me change?" he asked.
"No, sir!" she shook her head.
"Well, the thing is... I just discovered that you are my 7th chance mate. Like you are my future wife and if you'll accept... It's optional you know. You can reject me. It won't hurt like they say in those novels. So what do you say?" he asked.
"Can you give me some time to process this, sir?"
"Sure! Give me an answer on the full moon before it turns dark. Don't feel pressured, alright?" he said tiredly and took out his phone from the bathrobe.
"So... You mean that I can leave now?" she asked nervously.
"Yeah! I'm good. I just need 10 more minutes to recover my full strength and I'll leave with my shadow bodyguard. You don't have to worry." he said with a smile.
"Alright then. I'll think about it boss. Have a good sleep when you get home later." she got up and waved before leaving through the trap door she came through earlier.
Seeing that she'd left, he coughed out blood.
"Tristan, you don't have to react like this. I know it hurts to be rejected 6 times. But those girls were unworthy of us in the first place. Come on, cheer up. She'll give her verdict on the full moon. Before then, you gotta be strong. Okay?" Nelson said. One of his eyes turned red and his voice deepened. Then he spoke.
"Fine. But if she rejects us like the others, I'll just wipe her memory and send her into exile."
The red eye returned to normal and Nelson spoke in his normal voice.
"You gotta calm down. I have this good feeling about Aarti."